Gifted Retailer: Curious Sofa
Quinn Halford -- Gifts and Dec, 5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Now in its tenth year of business, CURIOUS SOFA of Prairie Village, KS, offers a range of gift products from promotional to high end in its 2,500 square feet of selling space. Owner DEBBIE DUSENBERRY talks about her passion for discovering items to please her customers.
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GIFTS & DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES: What do you like best about being a retailer?
DEBBIE DUSENBERRY: It would have to be antiquing for merchandise because that has been a passion and interest of mine since I was a child. To be a buyer, collector, artist, or designer (whatever I am) and have a venue to use it is huge. I can buy most things I desire to put in the store instead of taking them home or leaving them for someone else. Discovering these items for my customers makes me very happy.
G&DA: What was the most valuable piece of business advice that you ever received?
DB: The best advice I ever received was to work on my business and not in my business.
The other was to watch my cost of goods versus my profit margin. Both are crucial to business success.
G&DA: What is, or was, your most successful promotion?
DB: Our Christmas VIP party is our most successful event. We send out 250 invitations to our top customers for a sneak peek the night before we reveal our holiday decor to the general public. We have music, champagne, and great food.
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G&DA: What three products or lines are your best sellers?
DB: The big ones are Antique, Shannon Martin greeting cards, and initial charms.
G&DA: What has been your most effective display?
DB: I did a window display one Christmas using all brown and cream colors. An antique mannequin was center stage with French newspaper, tinsel, glitter, and uniquely wrapped packages using kraft paper and lace trim. A national publisher happened to be in town and was impressed by it and asked me to submit it and other images for a chapter in her new book. (Vintage Christmas Crafts from Sterling Publishing.)
G&DA: What are you doing to attract new customers?
DB: We take the store on the road to special weekend events, holiday marts, and antique shows.
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G&DA: How do you find your best employees?
DB: Usually the best employees come through a customer or acquaintance. A cold ad can possibly bring some great people to you, but having a personal reference is always good.
G&DA: What was your biggest retail problem and how did you solve it?
DB: My biggest retail problem is keeping my momentum when sales are slow. Retail is lonely and when sales are down it can steal any joy I might be having. Juggling the daily store operations, employees [Curious Sofa has five sales assistants], and all the money issues can be so overwhelming. I try to delegate where I can. I treat myself to a better hotel or restaurant when I go to market and I talk to other retailers to share stories and solutions. Trying to find a life outside the shop is important but hard to do.
We would love your feedback!
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